English Reference

Word

warden

Phoneticswar·den

US/ˈwɔɹdən/

UK/wˈɔːdən/

Definitions

01official in charge of a place

B2

n. a person who is in charge of a building or a specific area, like a college or a nature park.

n. the chief administrative officer or governing official of an institution, such as a college, hospital, or guild.

“The college warden met with the students to discuss the new housing rules.”

“As the warden of the historic guildhall, he was responsible for both the preservation of the archives and the management of daily operations.”

02prison official

B2 · Law

n. the person in charge of a prison.

n. the chief administrative official of a correctional facility or prison.

“The warden ordered a full inspection of the prison cells after the incident.”

“The prison warden implemented a new vocational training programme designed to reduce recidivism rates among the inmate population.”

American English

Usage

In British English, the equivalent term is usually 'prison governor'.

Teaching tip

Learners should note that 'warden' is the standard term for this role in the United States, while 'governor' is used in the UK.

03rule enforcer

B2

n. an official who makes sure people follow specific laws, like those for hunting or parking.

n. an official charged with the enforcement of specific regulations or the protection of resources.

“A game warden checked our fishing licenses at the lake.”

“Traffic wardens were out in force this morning, issuing fines to vehicles parked illegally along the main thoroughfare.”

04guard or watchman

C1

n. a person who guards or watches over something.

n. a guard, watchman, or keeper responsible for security or oversight.

“The silent warden of the tower watched the horizon for any sign of the returning fleet.”

“In the epic poem, the ancient warden of the gates refuses entry to any who cannot answer his riddle.”

Literary · Archaic

05to supervise

C2

v. to do the work of a warden or to look after a place.

v. to perform the duties of a warden; to supervise or monitor a specific area or group.

“He spent his summer wardening at a remote bird sanctuary in the north.”

“The volunteers were tasked to warden the nesting grounds during the peak breeding season to prevent accidental disturbance by tourists.”

Formal

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference